HORMONAL INFLUENCES ON THE NEUROBIOL OF EXCITABLE CELLS

我正在研究性腺类固醇激素对 动作电位的解剖学和生理学特性 产生（即电可兴奋的）细胞。 我正在使用 mormyrids的一个弱电群 非洲的鱼，作为一个模型系统。 摩米人有一个电动的 位于尾部的器官，由变形的肌肉细胞组成 它们共同产生一个电器官 出院（爆炸物处理）。 爆炸物处理装置的特点是： 由电细胞的解剖学和生理学决定。 由单个电细胞产生的活性决定了 整个EOD的外观。 我发现性腺类固醇激素（如睾酮）可以 诱导EOD的变化，模仿自然的性别差异。 类固醇引起的EOD变化与 在电细胞的可兴奋膜的形态中， 动作电位波形的持续时间。 我想 继续研究荷尔蒙的细胞机制 引起的解剖学和生理学的变化， 器官. 我也想扩展我对类固醇的解剖学研究- 在电鱼的大脑中结合细胞。 甾体激素对电细胞的影响可能是 基本上他们的行动对其他类别的电气 易兴奋的细胞，即神经元和肌肉纤维。 EOD本身 它的独特之处在于，它既是一种行为， 电子导航系统和社交通信，以及 离散的神经生理事件 这样，我们就可以编织一个 类固醇激素作用在功能（即， 行为）和机械或细胞水平。

I am studying the influences of gonadal steroid hormones on the anatomical and physiological properties of action potential- generating (i.e. electrically excitable) cells. I am using the electromotor system of mormyrids, a group of weakly electric fish from Africa, as a model system. Mormyrids have an electric organ located in the tail that consists of modified muscle cells called electrocytes that together generate an Electric Organ Discharge (EOD). The characteristic properties of the EOD are determined by the anatomy and physiology of the electrocytes. The activity generated by a single electrocyte determines the appearance of the entire EOD. I have found that gonadal steroid hormones (e.g. testosterone) can induce changes in the EOD that mimic natural sex differences. Steroid-induced changes in the EOD are correlated with changes in the morphology of the electrocyte's excitable membranes and the duration of their action potential waveforms. I want to continue studying the cellular mechanisms underlying hormone- induced changes in the anatomy and physiology of the electric organ. I also want to extend my anatomical studies of steroid- binding cells in the brain of electric fish. The effects of steroid hormones on electrocytes may be fundamental to their action on other classes of electrically excitable cells, namely neurons and muscle fibers. The EOD itself is somewhat unique in that it is both a behavior, important in an electrical guidance system and in social communication, and a discrete neurophysiological event. In this way, we can weave an interface between steroid hormone action at functional (i.e. behavior) and mechanistic or cellular levels.